What is sickle cell disease?

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells (RBC), which contain mostly hemoglobin S, an abnormal type of hemoglobin. Sometimes these RBCs become crescent shaped and have difficulty passing through small blood vessels.

How do members experience sickle cell disease?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with sickle cell disease*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for sickle cell disease*

Who has sickle cell disease on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 9
20s 27
30s 58
40s 39
50s 30
60s 12
70+ 6

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 62
Female 118